Method of controlling deposition of a continuous elongated element in building a tyre for vehicle wheels, process and apparatus for building a tyre for vehicle wheels

ABSTRACT

A method of controlling deposition of a continuous elongated element in building a tire for vehicle wheels, includes; feeding an initial end of a continuous elongated element of elastomeric material through a slit bounded by a first roller and a second roller of a calender; retaining the continuous elongated element against a peripheral surface of the first roller; laying the initial end of the continuous elongated element against a deposition surface; rotating the calender around an oscillation axis that is substantially coincident with a contact generatrix between the first roller and the second roller; and dragging along the continuous elongated element together with the deposition surface.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a method of controlling deposition of acontinuous elongated element in building a tire for vehicle wheels, to aprocess and apparatus for building a tire for vehicle wheels.

A tire generally comprises a carcass structure including at least onecarcass ply having end flaps in engagement with respective annularanchoring structures, each of them being usually made up of at least onesubstantially circumferential annular insert to which at least onefilling insert is applied. A belt structure is associated with thecarcass structure, at a radially external position thereof and itcomprises one or more belt layers disposed in radially superposedrelationship to each other and to the carcass ply and comprising textileor metallic reinforcing cords having a crossed orientation and/or beingsubstantially parallel to the circumferential extension direction of thetire. Applied at a radially external position to the belt structure is atread band also of elastomeric material like other semifinished productsconstituting the tire. A so-called “under-layer” of elastomeric materialcan be interposed between the tread band and the belt structure, whichunder-layer has properties suitable to ensure a steady union of thetread band itself. Respective sidewalls of elastomeric material arefurther applied onto the side surfaces of the carcass structure, eachextending from one of the side edges of the tread band until close tothe respective annular anchoring structure to the beads.

It should be pointed out, to the aims of the present specification thatthe term “elastomeric material” is understood as indicating acomposition comprising at least one elastomeric polymer and at least onereinforcing filler. Preferably, this composition further comprisesadditives such as a cross-linking agent and/or a plasticizer, forexample. Due to the presence of the cross-linking agent, this materialcan be cross-linked through heating, so as to form the final article ofmanufacture.

It is presently known to make components of elastomeric material of thetire directly on one or more supports. Note that by “component ofelastomeric material” of the tire in this context it is intended anypart of elastomeric material of the tire (tread band, sidewalls, liner,under-liner, fillers in the bead region, sidewall inserts in run flattires, abrasion-proof inserts, for example) or a portion thereof, or yetthe assembly formed with two or more of said parts or portions.

Document EP 1 279 486 discloses a method of making a shaped rubber body,such as a green tire or a component of this tire, on a rotary support.This rubber body is made through extrusion of a rubber strip by amovable extrusion system, which comprises a screw extrusion unit, a gearpump and an extrusion head provided with an extruder nozzle, connectedin series. The rubber strip is fed to a rotary support along asubstantially rectilinear passage extending from the screw extrusionunit to the extruder nozzle. The rubber strip is fed to a rotary supportalong a substantially rectilinear passageway extending from the screwextrusion unit to the extruder nozzle. The rubber strip is furtherpassed through a slit defined between two presser rollers and appliedonto an outer surface of the rotary support by one of said two presserrollers.

Document EP 0 968 814 illustrates how to deposit elastomeric materialonto a support driven in rotation using a positive-displacement extruderfor feeding the elastomeric material, by disposing a pair of rollersrotating in opposite directions in the vicinity of a radially externalsurface of a supporting portion and using the slit bounded between therollers as the calender for the elastomeric material coming from theextruder.

Document WO 2008/053278, in the name of the same Applicant, describes anapparatus for building tires comprising a forming support and anassembling device for assembling components of elastomeric material onthe forming support. The assembling device comprises a feeding unit forsupplying a continuous elongated element of elastomeric material, aconveyor having a surface movable along a predetermined direction andtowards a proximal end thereof adjacent to the forming support; anapplication device positioned at the proximal end. The continuouselongated element is advanced on the movable surface until the proximalend, and the forming support is rotated to enable application of thecontinuous elongated element in the form of coils wound up on theforming support. A holding roller is mounted above the movable surfaceof the conveyor and cooperates with the conveyor for cutting thecontinuous elongated element at the end of an application step of thelatter onto the forming support. The holding roller retains the just cutend of the continuous elongated element supported by the conveyor. Thecontinuous elongated element is therefore ready for a new application onthe forming support.

Document WO 2009/040594 in the name of the same Applicant discloses aprocess for building tires for vehicle wheels comprising: building acarcass structure on a first forming drum in a carcass-structurebuilding line; building a crown structure on a second forming drum in acrown-structure building line; shaping the carcass structure into atoroid, assembling it to the crown structure in an assembling andshaping station; vulcanising and moulding the green tire in avulcanisation and moulding line separated from the carcass and crownbuilding lines.

The Applicant has found that in devices of known type, as thosedescribed in the aforesaid documents EP 1 279 486 and EP 0 968 814,starting of deposition, when the head of the continuous elongatedelement coming out of the extruder is brought to a position between thetwo calender rollers (referred to as “routing”) and subsequently againstthe forming support, is critical because the element has a tendency toseparate from the rollers or to adhere to one of them rather than theother without any control and it is not therefore correctly guidedagainst the forming support. This involves an average extension of thecycle times because working must be stopped so as to remedy thedrawback.

The Applicant has further found that leaving the continuous elongatedelement routed between the two rollers in the period between twodepositions is dangerous because this does not enable the extruder to bepurged and the portion of the elongated element remaining between therollers becomes wider and cools, due to stopping between a cycle and thefollowing one, so that it has necessarily to be eliminated beforestarting a new deposition in order to avoid formation of faults on thetire.

The Applicant has further noticed that if a solution like that disclosedin document WO 2008/053278 is adopted, the same problem exists, becausethe continuous elongated element after being cut remains routed betweenthe conveyor and the holding roller.

Within the scope of the highly automated modern plants for tireproduction, like that of the type illustrated in WO 2009/040594, theApplicant has felt the necessity to reduce the cycle times of theindividual production steps as well as the time the machine is at astandstill for servicing and/or possible inconveniences arisen duringbuilding of the tire, so as to increase productivity.

In particular, the Applicant has perceived that the steps and relateddevices for deposition of continuous elongated elements of elastomericmaterial on the forming support provided for manufacture of carcass orcrown components such as the carcass liner or belt under-layer forexample, can be made more reliable and quicker.

More specifically, the Applicant has understood that by eliminating theproblems correlated with movement of the continuous elongated element atthe beginning of a new application step of same onto a depositionsurface, building of the component of elastomeric material obtained fromsaid application is achieved in a more reliable manner and in accordancewith the design conditions.

The Applicant has finally found that if the continuous elongated elementis retained on one of the two rollers of a calender during andimmediately after routing and the head of the same continuous elongatedelement is applied against the deposition surface, bringing the rolleritself against the same deposition surface, said application can bestarted without running the risk of creating faults in the tirecomponent that is going to be built.

More specifically, in a first aspect, the present invention relates to amethod of controlling deposition of a continuous elongated element inbuilding a tire for vehicle wheels, comprising:

-   -   feeding an initial end of a continuous elongated element of        elastomeric material through a slit bounded by a first roller        and a second roller of a calender;    -   retaining said continuous elongated element against a peripheral        surface of the first roller;    -   laying said initial end of the continuous elongated element        against a deposition surface;    -   dragging along the continuous elongated element together with        the deposition surface.

It is the Applicant's opinion that in this manner the continuouselongated element is fed without distortion and flaws onto the formingdrum making the building process reliable and obtaining a product incompliance with the design conditions.

More specifically, in accordance with a second aspect, the presentinvention relates to a process for building a tire for vehicle wheelscomprising assembling of components of elastomeric material on a formingdrum, in which at least one of the components of elastomeric material isobtained by:

-   -   producing a continuous elongated element of elastomeric material        through an extruder;    -   feeding an initial end of said continuous elongated element of        elastomeric material on a peripheral surface of a first roller        of a calender through a slit bounded by said first roller and by        a second roller of said calender;    -   rotating the calender around an oscillation axis for moving the        first roller from a position spaced apart from the forming drum        to a position close to said forming drum until laying said        initial end of the continuous elongated element against a        deposition surface radially external to said forming drum;    -   driving the continuous elongated element in rotation together        with the forming drum so as to determine application of said        continuous elongated element on said forming drum.

In a third aspect, the present invention relates to an apparatus forbuilding a tire for vehicle wheels, comprising:

-   -   a forming drum rotating about an axis thereof;    -   an extruder;    -   a calender mounted on a frame and comprising a first roller and        a second roller disposed close to each other at radially        peripheral portions thereof and defining a slit; wherein the        frame is movable relative to a supporting base of the frame        itself around an oscillation axis;    -   an actuating device acting on the frame for moving the calender        around the oscillation axis between a first position, at which        the first roller is spaced apart from the forming drum, and a        second position, at which the first roller is disposed close to        said forming drum.

The Applicant thinks that the above structure will also allow servicingand purging interventions on the extruder to be carried out easilybecause at the end of each deposition the elongated element must notnecessarily remain between the rollers. The rollers can be moved apart,sideways for example, by means of another actuating device, from theoutlet opening of the extruder to enable automatic purging.

The present invention, in at least one of said aspects, can also haveone or more of the preferred features described hereinafter.

In a preferred form of the method said continuous elongated element isretained against the peripheral surface of the first roller by drivingsaid first roller in rotation at a peripheral speed lower than aperipheral speed of the second roller.

Preferably, the ratio of the peripheral speed of the second roller tothe peripheral speed of the first roller is included between about 1.05and about 1.25.

Preferably, the peripheral speed of the first roller is included betweenabout 40 m/s and about 240 m/s. Preferably, the peripheral speed of thesecond roller is included between about 50 m/s and 250 m/s.

The lower speed makes the continuous elongated element bend towards theslower roller, separating it from the faster roller and causes saidelongated element to remain stuck to the latter. The speed ratio is setbased on the compound to be used.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method, the initial end ofthe continuous elongated element is laid against the deposition surfacewhen it has carried out, together with the peripheral surface of thefirst roller, a rotation relative to said slit included between about70° and about 110°.

This rotation brings the head of the continuous elongated element ontoan end portion of the calender that is brought into contact with thedeposition surface without the risk that other parts of the calenderitself may touch said deposition surface in motion.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method, said initial end ofthe continuous elongated element is laid against said deposition surfaceby rotating the calender around an oscillation axis.

Preferably, the oscillation axis is substantially coincident with acontact generatrix between the first roller and the second roller.

The distance between the slit and the outlet opening of the extruderremains substantially fixed during rotation of the calender moving closeto the deposition surface and during possible oscillations caused byundulations or unevenness of the surface itself. By maintaining saiddistance fixed, generation of traction/compression phenomena on thecontinuous elongated element coming out of the slit (or, in other words,the pulsating variation of the instantaneous delivery of said continuouselongated element) is avoided, so that the consequent formation on thecontinuous elongated element of swollen portions (with greater section)alternated with portions with smaller section (pulsating elongatedelement) can be avoided.

In a preferred embodiment, the process comprises: going on pressing thecontinuous elongated element against the forming drum by means of thefirst roller during rotation of said continuous elongated elementtogether with said forming drum.

Preferably, the first roller rotates in an idle manner being draggedalong by the forming drum.

The first roller rotates in an idle manner being driven by friction bythe forming drum to which it remains coupled during the whole depositionwith interposition of the continuous elongated element.

In an alternative embodiment, the process comprises: moving the firstroller away from the forming drum after laying said initial end of thecontinuous elongated element against the deposition surface.

Preferably, the first roller moved away from the forming drum ismechanically coupled to the second roller for rotation, being draggedalong by said second roller.

In addition, preferably, the continuous elongated element is pressedagainst the forming drum by an auxiliary wheel during rotation of saidforming drum.

After deposition of the head of the continuous elongated element, thefirst roller is separated from the drum and held in rotation throughmechanical friction coupling with the second roller. During rotation ofthe drum, the continuous elongated element goes on being pressed againstthe drum by the auxiliary wheel and the peripheral speed of the firstroller and the second roller are the same speeds they had during thestarting dragging along of the continuous elongated element beforepointing to the forming drum.

Preferably, the initial end of said continuous elongated element is fedonto the peripheral surface of the first roller by setting the firstroller in rotation at a peripheral speed lower than a peripheral speedof the second roller.

Preferably, on moving from the position spaced apart from the formingdrum to the position close to said forming drum the first roller carriesout a displacement included between about 10 mm and about 30 mm.

This movement is preferably carried out while the head of the continuouselongated element covers an arc of a circumference together with thefirst roller starting from the slit until reaching the most advancedposition of the aforesaid first roller.

Preferably, the continuous elongated element is applied onto the formingdrum in the form of coils disposed in side by side relationship and/orat least partly overlapped.

In a preferred embodiment, the calender comprises a motor operativelycoupled to the second roller.

In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises a friction mechanismoperatively interposed between the first roller and the second roller.

Preferably, said friction mechanism is movable between at least oneengagement position, at which it drives the first roller in rotation anda disengagement position, at which the first roller is an idle roller.

Friction enables the first roller either to rotate being driven by thesecond roller at a peripheral speed lower than that of the second rolleror to be driven in an idle manner by the continuous elongated element orthe forming drum.

Preferably, the outlet opening of the extruder is fixed relative to thesupporting base.

The outlet opening is fixed on the base and faces the calender slit andthe calender is pivotally mounted on the base and can oscillate aroundan axis passing through said slit, so as to maintain said distancebetween the outlet opening and the slit constant.

Preferably, the first roller has a greater diameter than a diameter ofthe second roller.

Preferably, the diameter of the first roller is included between about90 mm and about 300 mm.

Preferably, the diameter of the second roller is included between about80 mm and about 250 mm.

Such a structure enables the first roller to rest against the drumwithout the drum interfering with the extruder and without the secondroller interfering with the drum itself.

According to a preferred embodiment, the actuating device comprises apneumatic piston mounted between the frame and the supporting base.

According to a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises anauxiliary wheel mounted on the supporting base and disposed close to thefirst roller.

The wheel too is mounted on the base in such a manner as to be able totake up possible unevenness of the deposition surface.

Preferably the wheel is pushed towards the forming drum through anauxiliary pneumatic piston, so as to take up the unevenness of theforming drum, irrespective of the first roller and thus of the frame towhich the first roller is secured.

Further features and advantages will become more apparent from thedetailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of amethod of controlling deposition of a continuous elongated element inbuilding a tire for vehicle wheels, a process and an apparatus forbuilding a tire for vehicle wheels according to the present invention.This description will be set out hereinafter with reference to theaccompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting example, in which:

FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows a plant for building tires for vehiclewheels;

FIG. 2 a is an elevation side view of an apparatus according to theinvention belonging to the plant in FIG. 1, in a first operatingconfiguration;

FIG. 2 b shows the apparatus in FIG. 2 a in a second operatingconfiguration;

FIG. 3 is an elevation side view of the apparatus of the invention froma side opposite to that in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, in the first operatingconfiguration;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the apparatus seen in FIGS. 2 a, 2 b and 3;

FIG. 5 is a half-section view of a tire for vehicle wheels obtainedfollowing a process in accordance with the invention.

With reference to the drawings, a plant for building tires for vehiclewheels comprising at least one apparatus 2 for building a tire forvehicle wheels according to the invention has been generally identifiedwith reference numeral 1.

Plant 1 is designed to manufacture tires 3 essentially comprising acarcass structure 4 having at least one carcass ply 5. A layer of anairtight elastomeric material or liner 6 can be applied internally ofthe carcass ply/plies 5. Two annular anchoring structures 7 eachcomprising a so-called bead core 7 a carrying an elastomeric filler 7 bat a radially external position are in engagement with respective endflaps 5 a of the carcass ply or plies 5. The annular anchoringstructures are integrated in the vicinity of regions usually identifiedas “beads” 8, at which usually engagement between tire 3 and arespective mounting rim occurs. A belt structure 9 comprising one ormore belt layers 9 a, 9 b is circumferentially applied around thecarcass ply/plies 5 and a tread band 10 is circumferentially superposedon the belt structure 9. So-called “under-belt inserts” 11 can beassociated with the belt structure 9 and they are each located betweenthe carcass ply/plies 5 and one of the axially opposite end edges of thebelt structure 9. In addition or as an alternative to the under-beltinserts 11, annular inserts (not shown) of elastomeric material and/orcomprising textile or metallic cords substantially parallel to thecircumferential extension direction of the tire (a zero-degree beltlayer) or other reinforcing elements can be radially superposed at leaston the axially opposite end edges of the belt layers 9 a, 9 b, and/orinterposed between the same belt layers 9 a, 9 b at least at said endedges. Two sidewalls 12, each extending from the corresponding bead 8 toa corresponding side edge of the tread band 10, are applied to thecarcass ply/plies 5 at laterally opposite positions.

The aforesaid components of elastomeric material of tire 3 aremanufactured on one or more forming drums by moving said forming drumsbetween different work stations at each of which suitable depositionunits preferably apply basic semifinished products onto the forming drumor drums.

In a preferred embodiment diagrammatically shown in FIG. 1 by way ofexample, plant 1 comprises a carcass-building line 13 at which one ormore forming drums 14 are sequentially moved between different workstations designed to form a carcass sleeve on each forming drum 14,which carcass sleeve comprises the carcass ply/plies 5, liner 6, annularanchoring structures 7 and possibly at least part of the sidewalls 12.Simultaneously, in an outer-sleeve building line 15, one or moreauxiliary forming drums 16 are sequentially moved between different workstations designed to form an outer sleeve on each auxiliary drum 16,which outer sleeve comprises at least the belt structure 9, tread band10, and possibly at least part of the sidewalls 12.

Plant 1 further comprises an assembling station 17 at which the outersleeve is removed from the auxiliary drum 16 to be coupled to thecarcass sleeve.

Tires 3 built by plant 1 are sequentially transferred to at least onevulcanisation unit, not shown.

In accordance with the present invention, at least one of the componentsof elastomeric material of tire 3, such as liner 6, fillers 7 b and/orother parts of elastomeric material in beads 8, sidewalls 12, tread band10 and/or others, is obtained by means of the above mentioned apparatus2. One or more apparatuses 2 of this type can belong to thecarcass-building line 13 and/or the outer-sleeve building line 15.

This apparatus 2 comprises at least one feeding unit 18 to supply acontinuous elongated element 19 of elastomeric material.

In the embodiment illustrated in a non-limiting sense the feeding unitis an extruder 18 provided with a cylinder into which elastomericmaterial is introduced. The cylinder, heated to a controlledtemperature, operatively houses a rotating screw by effect of which theelastomeric material is pushed along the cylinder towards an outletopening or die 20 of extruder 18. Consequently, delivered through theoutlet opening 20 is the continuous elongated element 19 of rawelastomeric material having a substantially circular cross-sectionalprofile. Alternatively, the conformation of the outlet opening 20 and,as a result, the cross-sectional profile of the continuous elongatedelement 19, can be of the ellipsoidal type.

The continuous elongated element 19 coming from extruder 18 is guided toa calender 21 comprising a first roller 22 and a second roller 23 thatcan rotate around respective parallel rotation axes and are moved closeto each other at their radially peripheral portions.

The radially peripheral surface of the first roller 22 is of asubstantially cylindrical conformation or in the form of a barrel, whilethe radially peripheral surface of the second roller 23 has acircumferential groove of suitable conformation (shown in FIG. 4). Thusa shaped slit 24 is defined between the mutually approached rollers 22,23. The diameter “D₁” of the first roller 22 is included between about90 mm and about 300 mm and the diameter “D₂” of the second roller 23 isincluded between about 80 mm and about 250 mm.

The two rollers are preferably made of metal material and do not sufferdeformation when the continuous elongated element 19 passes through slit24, so as to give the desired section to element 19.

The two rollers 22, 23 of the calender 21 are mounted on a first face 25a of a frame 25 in turn installed on a supporting base 26. Frame 25 hasthe shape of a plate and carries, pivotally mounted thereon, the pivotpins of the two rollers 22, 23 lying parallel like the respectiverotation axes.

A first gear wheel 27 is rotatably mounted on the first face 25 a offrame 25 (FIG. 4) and the first roller 22 is coaxial with said firstgear wheel 27 and is connected thereto through a friction mechanism 28only diagrammatically shown in the form of a box-shaped body (notvisible as it is radially internal relative to the gear wheel 27). Thefriction mechanism 28 is movable between an engagement position, atwhich the gear wheel 27 is integral with the first roller 22 and rotatestogether with the latter, and a disengagement position at which thefirst roller 22 is uncoupled from the first gear wheel 27 and is an idleroller. A second gear wheel 29 is rotatably mounted to the first face 25a of frame 25 and the second roller 23 is coaxial and integral with saidsecond gear wheel 29 (FIG. 4). The second roller 23 too rotates togetherwith said second gear wheel 29. A third gear wheel 30 is idly mounted onthe first face 25 a of frame 25 and is placed alongside the second gearwheel 29 on the opposite side relative to the first gear wheel 27 (FIGS.2 a, 2 b and 4). A fourth gear wheel 31 is idly mounted on the firstface 25 a of frame 25 (FIGS. 2 a, 2 b and 4) and is fitted on a shaft ofan electric motor 32 (FIGS. 3 and 4), preferably mounted on frame 25too. The second gear wheel 29 and third gear wheel 30 are disposedbetween the first gear wheel 27 and fourth gear wheel 31. A toothed belt33 (shown in FIGS. 2 a, 2 b and 3 but not in FIG. 4) is partly wrappedaround each of the gear wheels 27, 29, 30, 31 so as to transmit therotation motion generated by the electric motor 32 to the first gearwheel 27 and the second gear wheel 29 in opposite ways.

Frame 25 is hinged on the supporting base 26 around an oscillation axis“X-X” which is coincident with a contact generatrix between the firstroller 22 and second roller 23, which generatrix is located at theshaped slit 24. The supporting base 26 has a portion 26 adjacent to thesecond face 25 b of frame 25 on the opposite side relative to the firstroller 22 and the second roller 23.

A pneumatic piston 34 (FIG. 3) has an end connected to frame 25 and anopposite end connected to the supporting base 26 and is spaced from theoscillation axis “X-X”. The pneumatic piston 34 is an actuating deviceand extension or shortening of same, suitably controlled, causesrotation of frame 25 around said oscillation axis “X-X”.

The supporting base 26 is in turn installed on a body 35 integral withthe extruder and can be moved relative to said body 35 in a directionparallel to the oscillation axis “X-X” along two preferably bar-shapedguides 36, carried by said body 35 and by means of a motor 37.

Apparatus 2 further comprises an auxiliary wheel 38 carried by thesupporting base 26 at a lower end thereof in the vicinity of the firstroller 22. In greater detail, the auxiliary wheel 38 is idly hinged onthe free end of a support 39 the opposite end of which is connected toan auxiliary pneumatic piston 40 mounted on said supporting base 26. Theauxiliary wheel is free to rotate around an axis parallel to theoscillation axis “X-X” and around the rotation axes of the first roller22 and second roller 23.

One of the forming drums 14 carried and rotated around its main axis bya suitable device 41, such as a robotized arm, is brought in face ofcalender 21.

In accordance with the method and process of the present invention, theextruder is set in operation and produces the continuous elongatedelement 19 coming out of the outlet opening 20 and passing through thecalender slit 24. During the whole working, the outlet opening 20 isfixed relative to the supporting base 26 and faces slit 24.

In this first step, the first roller 22 is spaced apart from thedeposition surface 14 a, i.e. the radially external surface 14 a of theforming drum 14 (FIG. 2 a). In addition, the first roller 22 is coupledto the second one 23 and moved by motor 32 through the engaged friction28, the first and second gear wheel 27, 29 and the toothed belt 33. Thenumber of teeth of the first gear wheel 27 and the second gear wheel 29and the diameters “D₁”, “D₂” of the first roller 22 and second roller 23are of such a nature that the peripheral speed “V₁” of the first roller22 is lower than the peripheral speed “V₂” of the second roller 23. Forexample, the ratio of the peripheral speed “V₂” of the second roller 23to the peripheral speed “V₁” of the first roller 22 is included betweenabout 1.05 and about 1.25 and is preferably of about 1.16. Preferably,in this first step, the peripheral speed “V₁” of the first roller 22 isincluded between about 40 m/s and about 240 m/s and the peripheral speed“V₂” of the second roller 23 is included between about 50 m/s and about250 ms/s.

Due to this difference in the peripheral speed, the continuous elongatedelement 19 adheres to and is retained on the peripheral surface of thefirst roller 22. The initial end 19 a of the continuous elongatedelement 19 moves together with said peripheral surface of the firstroller 22 and covers an arc of a circumference. Meanwhile, by operatingthe pneumatic piston 34, frame 25 is rotated around the oscillation axis“X-X” so as to move the first roller 22 close to the forming drum 14 andmake the initial end 19 a of the continuous elongated element 19 restagainst the forming drum 14 (FIG. 2 b) when said initial end 19 a hascarried out together with the first roller 22, a rotation includedbetween about 70° and about 110°, preferably equal to about 90°,calculated starting from slit 24.

The continuous elongated element 19 adheres to the radially externalsurface 14 a of the forming drum 14, which surface can be the surface ofthe forming drum 14 itself or the surface of one or more elementsalready laid down on the forming drum 14.

After routing of said continuous elongated element 19 between rollers22, 23 of the calender 21 has occurred, as well as adhesion of saidelement 19 to one of the rollers, rotation of calender 21 allows thefirst roller 22 carrying the initial end 19 a of said continuouselongated element 19 to move close to the forming drum 14 and enablesapplication of the initial end 19 a to the surface 14 a radiallyexternal to the forming drum 14 in a simple and quick manner and withoutrunning the risk that parts in motion of calender 21 may interfere withdrum 14 while rotating and with extruder 18 and that drum 14 mayinterfere with extruder 18 (in particular the reduction gearing and thegear pump of the latter).

Powered rotation of the forming drum 14 drags along the continuouselongation element 19 together with the radially external surface 14 aof said drum, causing winding up of said element into coils for exampledisposed in side by side relationship and/or partly superposed, on thedrum 14 itself. To this aim, the robotized arm 41 moves the forming drum14 in front of calender 21 during deposition. If the radially peripheralsurface of the first roller 22 is rounded or convex, drum 14 can also beslightly inclined to said first roller 22 for laying down continuouselongated elements 19 on uneven surfaces.

During winding into coils, the auxiliary wheel 38 presses the continuouselongated element 19 against the forming drum 14 for consolidating andcompacting the elastomeric material. The auxiliary pneumatic piston 40is able to take up possible unevenness present on the surface radiallyexternal to the forming drum 14.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention (FIG. 2 b), duringwinding into coils, the first roller 22 is maintained against theforming drum 14, the continuous elongated element 19 being interposedtherebetween, and rotates in an idle manner, being driven by the drum 14itself by friction. The peripheral speed of the forming drum 14 can bethe same as the peripheral speed “V₂” of the second roller 23 orgreater. The pneumatic piston 34 takes up possible unevenness present onthe surface radially external to the forming drum.

In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention,immediately after application of the initial end 19 a of the continuouselongated element 19 against the forming drum 14, the first roller 22 isagain moved away from the surface 14 a radially external to the formingdrum 14 causing rotation of frame 25 in the opposite way around theoscillation axis “X-X” by means of the pneumatic piston 34.

The continuous elongated element 19 is compacted by the auxiliary wheel38 alone, and the calender 21 works separated from the forming drum 14.Preferably, in addition, the first roller 22 is again coupled to thesecond roller 23 and the electric motor 32 through the frictionmechanism 28 and rotates being driven by belt 33.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the friction mechanism 28 hasa plurality of operating positions in addition to the idle one, so thatunder normal working conditions the first roller 22 is rotated at thesame peripheral speed “V₁” as the peripheral speed of drum 14 and at theperipheral speed “V₂” of the second roller or at the same peripheralspeed “V₁” as the peripheral speed of drum 14 and greater than theperipheral speed “V₂” of the second roller 23.

On moving from the position spaced apart from the forming drum 14 to theposition adjacent to the latter and vice versa, the pneumatic piston 34carries out a stroke included between about 10 mm and about 15 mm, whichvalue can be also different from that stated above depending on theposition of the pneumatic piston 34, and the first roller 22 carries outa stroke included between about 10 mm and about 30 mm.

When deposition has been completed, the residual continuous elongatedelement 19 is removed from calender 21, which calender 21 together withframe 25 can be moved apart from the outlet opening 20 of extruder 18,through sliding along guides 36, to enable purging and servicing of theextruder 18 itself.

1-29. (canceled)
 30. A method of controlling deposition of a continuouselongated element in building a tire for vehicle wheels, comprising:feeding an initial end of a continuous elongated element of elastomericmaterial through a slit bounded by a first roller and a second roller ofa calender; retaining said continuous elongated element against aperipheral surface of the first roller; laying said initial end of thecontinuous elongated element against a deposition surface; and draggingalong the continuous elongated element with the deposition surface. 31.The method as claimed in claim 30, wherein said continuous elongatedelement is retained against the peripheral surface of the first rollerby driving said first roller in rotation at a peripheral speed lowerthan a peripheral speed of the second roller.
 32. The method as claimedin claim 31, wherein a ratio of the peripheral speed of the secondroller to the peripheral speed of the first roller is between about 1.05and about 1.25.
 33. The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein theperipheral speed of the first roller is between about 40 m/s and about240 m/s.
 34. The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein the peripheralspeed of the second roller is between about 50 m/s and 250 m/s.
 35. Themethod as claimed in claim 30, wherein the initial end of the continuouselongated element is laid against the deposition surface after theinitial end has carried out, together with the peripheral surface of thefirst roller, a rotation relative to said slit between about 70° andabout 110°.
 36. The method as claimed in claim 30, wherein said initialend of the continuous elongated element is laid against said depositionsurface by rotating the calender around an oscillation axis.
 37. Themethod as claimed in claim 36, wherein the oscillation axis issubstantially coincident with a contact generatrix between the firstroller and the second roller.
 38. A process for building a tire forvehicle wheels comprising assembling of components of elastomericmaterial on a forming drum, wherein at least one of said components ofelastomeric material is obtained by: producing a continuous elongatedelement of elastomeric material through an extruder; feeding an initialend of said continuous elongated element of elastomeric material onto aperipheral surface of a first roller of a calender through a slitbounded by said first roller and by a second roller of said calender;rotating the calender around an oscillation axis for moving the firstroller from a position spaced apart from the forming drum to a positionclose to said forming drum until laying said initial end of thecontinuous elongated element against a deposition surface radiallyexternal to said forming drum; and driving the continuous elongatedelement in rotation with the forming drum so as to determine applicationof said continuous elongated element onto said forming drum.
 39. Theprocess as claimed in claim 38, comprising: pressing the continuouselongated element against the forming drum by means of the first rollerduring rotation of said continuous elongated element with said formingdrum.
 40. The process as claimed in claim 39, wherein the first rollerrotates in an idle manner being dragged along by the forming drum. 41.The process as claimed in claim 38, comprising: moving the first rolleraway from the forming drum after laying said initial end of thecontinuous elongated element against the deposition surface.
 42. Theprocess as claimed in claim 41, wherein the first roller moved away fromthe forming drum is mechanically coupled to the second roller forrotation, being dragged along by said second roller.
 43. The process asclaimed in claim 38, wherein the continuous elongated element is pressedagainst the forming drum by an auxiliary wheel during rotation of saidforming drum.
 44. The process as claimed in claim 38, wherein theinitial end of said continuous elongated element is fed onto theperipheral surface of the first roller by setting the first roller inrotation at a peripheral speed lower than a peripheral speed of thesecond roller.
 45. The process as claimed in claim 38, wherein the firstroller, on moving between the position spaced apart from the formingdrum and the position close to said forming drum, carries out adisplacement between about 10 mm and about 30 mm.
 46. The process asclaimed in claim 38, wherein the continuous elongated element is appliedonto the forming drum in a form of coils disposed in side by siderelationship and/or at least partly overlapped.
 47. The process asclaimed in claim 38, wherein said oscillation axis is substantiallycoincident with a contact generatrix between the first roller and thesecond roller.
 48. An apparatus for building a tire for vehicle wheels,comprising: a forming drum capable of rotating about an axis thereof; anextruder; a calender mounted on a frame and comprising a first rollerand a second roller disposed close to each other at radially peripheralportions thereof and defining a slit, wherein the frame is movablerelative to a supporting base of the frame around an oscillation axis;and an actuating device acting on the frame for moving the calenderaround the oscillation axis between a first position, at which the firstroller is spaced apart from the forming drum, and a second position, atwhich the first roller is disposed close to said forming drum.
 49. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 48, wherein the calender comprises a motoroperatively coupled to the second roller.
 50. The apparatus as claimedin claim 48, comprising a friction mechanism operatively interposedbetween the first roller and the second roller.
 51. The apparatus asclaimed in claim 50, wherein said friction mechanism is movable betweenat least one engagement position, at which said friction mechanismdrives the first roller in rotation, and a disengagement position, atwhich the first roller is an idle roller.
 52. The apparatus as claimedin claim 48, wherein an outlet opening of the extruder is fixed relativeto the supporting base,
 53. The apparatus as claimed in claim 48,wherein the first roller has a diameter greater than a diameter of thesecond roller.
 54. The apparatus as claimed in claim 53, wherein thediameter of the first roller is between about 90 mm and about 300 mm,55. The apparatus as claimed in claim 52, wherein the diameter of thesecond roller is between about 80 mm and about 250 mm.
 56. The apparatusas claimed in claim 48, wherein the actuating device comprises apneumatic piston mounted between the frame and the supporting base. 57.The apparatus as claimed in claim 48, comprising an auxiliary wheelmounted on the supporting base and disposed close to the first roller.58. The apparatus as claimed in claim 48, wherein said oscillation axisis substantially coincident with a contact generatrix between the firstroller and the second roller.